Sillsalteriet Sibirien

About the museum

Sibirien is a former salting house that was moved to Långegärde on Sydkoster. A small herring salting house at Hamnholmen outside Ekenäs had burned down, and the Sylvander brothers from Strömstad decided to build a new and larger one in the winter of 1889–1890. Herring fishing declined towards the end of the 1890s, and operations ceased in 1897. The premises were then used as a storehouse and as a repair workshop for nets and fishing waders.

In 1918 the building was dismantled piece by piece and transported to its present site by Kostersundet in Långegärde. There the salting house continued to be used for salting mackerel during the summers, and salted mackerel was mainly exported to America. Mackerel fishing declined around 1930. The house was named Sibirien and was used for several decades as a storehouse and boathouse, until Långegärde Fiskhamnsförening (fishing harbour association) took it over in 1980.

The newly formed Kosters hembygdsförening (local heritage society) started an effort to save the salting house from demolition. Today Sibirien is a protected cultural heritage building with a local history museum, a craft shop and a shellfish restaurant. The museum shows objects related to fishing and archipelago life, a large photo exhibition and a themed exhibition that changes every year. Mackerel fishing has become a permanent exhibition.

Highlights

• Protected salting house from 1889–1890, moved to Långegärde in 1918
• Permanent exhibition on mackerel fishing at Koster and the Doggers bankar (Dogger Bank)
• Large photo exhibition with images from the association's archive
• Objects from fishing and archipelago life
• Craft shop and shellfish restaurant in the same building

Permanent exhibitions

• Makrillfisket på Koster – Permanent exhibition on mackerel fishing at Koster and on the Doggers bankar (Dogger Bank).
• Fotoutställning och föremål från skärgårdslivet – Large photo exhibition and collection of objects on fishing and everyday life on the islands.

Operated by

Kosters hembygdsförening

Admission & discounts

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Accessibility

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Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The museum is located at Långegärde pier, the nearest pier to Valfjäll and Kosters kyrka (Koster Church). Bicycle rental is available on Sydkoster.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The craft shop and shellfish restaurant are in the same building. Toilet next to the museum. The museum also sells books and postcards about Koster.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit